Adjustable shoulder straps



Feb. 19, 1963 R, KQHORNE 3,077,650

ADJUSTABLE SHOULDER STRAPS Filed May '7, 1958 ATTORNEYS 3,977,659 ADEUSEAELE SHULDER TRAPS Russel K. Horne, Lititz, Pa., assignor to Singing Needles,

lne., Leela, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyivania iled May 7, 1958, Ser. No. 733,683 1 Claim. (Si. 2li-200) rl`his invention relates generally to improvements in adjustable shoulder straps and, more particularly, to improvements in adjustable shoulder straps for garments.

One object of the present invention is the provision of an improved connector means for an adjustable shoulder strap of a garment which is adapted for association with shoulder strap portions varying through a range of widths.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved connector means for connecting a pair of unequal width strap portions of an adjustable shoulder strap.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved connector means for connecting a pair of unequal width strap portions of an adjustable shoulder strap, said connector having means for preventing the tilting thereof.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved connector means of the above character which is readily separable from the associated strap portion so as to provide for the facile detachment of associated strap portions from the aforesaid connector means in order to facilitate the laundering and the pressing of said strap portions.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved connector means of the above character which is of simple design and construction, economical to manufacture, and highly efficient in the accomplishment of its intended purposes.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

FlG. 1 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the novel connector means, according to the invention;

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of a garment employing adjustable shoulder straps embodying the connector means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FlG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale showing the connector means of FIG. 1 with the associated strap portions of the adjustable shoulder strap;

FlG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the novel connector means according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective View, on an enlarged scale showing the connector of FIG. 6 with the associated strap portions of the adjustable shoulder strap.

yReferring to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIG. l thereof, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, connector means 10, which may be formed of metal, plastic or any other ysuitable material is Patented Feb. 19, i963 provided with a semi-circular aperture l2. bounded by the confronting curved or arcuate portion 14 and straight portion 16, having a transverse slot 18 therethrough. Connector element 1i) is also provided with a lower elongated aperture Zt bounded by portion 16, straight portions 22, and side portions 24 and 26, respectively. The longitudinal extent of aperture 20, may if desired, and as shown in FIG. 1, be less than the longitudinal extent of aperture 12.

Refering now, more particularly, to FlG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown a portion of garment 30, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is a ladys or childs slip having a pair of laterally spaced adjustable shoulder straps 32, 32 secured thereto. Each of the adjustable shoulder straps 32 of garment Sil is of identical structure and comprises a longitudinally adjustable strap portion 34, a nonadjustable strap portion 36 and said connector element 16. The longitudinally adjustable strap portion 34, which is conventional in all respects, has one end 4@ thereof secured to a rear portion of the garment 30 by means of the lines of stitching 4t2, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, and the opposite end 44 of said strap portion is constituted by a single strap length which is doubled over as clearly shown in FlGS. 2 and 3. The longitudinally adjustable strap portion 34- is adjusted by the manipulation of the looped adjuster element 46, it being apparent that said looped element is adapted to be moved longitudinally of said strap portion in a conventional manner for adjusting the length thereof. The end portion 44 of strap portion 343- is thus constituted by a doubled over length of strap whereby to define the loop 4S. It will be understood that end 44 is inserted through aperture 20 of connector ll@` before said end is passed through element 46 prior to its securement as by stitching 49. In this way loop 4S is in itnerengagement with connector element 10, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The non-adjustable vstrap portion 36 has one end 50 thereof secured to the front of the garment 30 by means of the line of stitching 52 as best shown in FIG. 4. The strap portion 36 may be formed of any suitable material and may be ornamented in any desired fashion, the end portion Sliof said strap portion being looped and adapted for interengagement with the arcuate portion 14 of connector element 1t). More particularly, the end 56 of strap portion 36 is doubled over said strap portion so as to define the transversely extending loop 5S, said end being secured to said strap portion in any conventional manner, for example, by means of the line of stitching 60.

As best seen in FIG. 5, connector element 10 is provided for the interconnection of the strap portions 34 and 36 so as to form the shoulder strap 32, said strap portions 3dand 36 being connected to portions 22 and 14, respectively, of the connector element 10.

Due to the arcuate or circular con-figuration of portion 14 of the connector element 1% a non-adjustable strap portion 36 of a wide range of widths may be readily secured to said element in a neatly gathered condition, as shown in FlGS. 2 and 5. Thus7 the shoulder strap portion 36 may be of a Width greater than the diameter of the arcuate surface portion 14 of semi-circular configuration and may be secured to connector element 10 in a neatly gathered condition. VAlthough in the illusemacs@ trated embodiment the connector element has a portion of semi-circular configuration, it is to be understood that various other arcuate formations approximating a circular or an eliptical configuration may be utilized. From the above, it will be apparent that the strap portion 34 and the associated connector element 161 may be utilized with the non-adjustable strap portions 36 varying through a wide range of Widths, with the latter secured to the connector element in a neatly gathered condition for providing an aesthetically attractive appearance.

In practice, the strap portion 34 and associated connector element 1G will be standardized and said connector element may have associated therewith non-adjustable strap portion 36 of a very great range of widths without materially effecting the aesthetically desirable appearance of the shoulder strap 32. Furthermore, the edge portions 62, 62 of strap portion 36 may be highly ornamented and portions of such ornamentation in the regionv of connectorelement 10 will not be adversely affected there. by. It is also to be noted that the strap portions 34 and 36. may be of dissimilar widths and such dissimilarity of widths Will in no wise impair theV connection of the strap, portions throughthe intermediation ofthe connector element 10,. Althoughstrong tension forces are not ordinarily appliedto the strap portions. 34 and 36, said strap portions will nevertheless maintain their neatly gathered condition and aesthetically attractive appearance even when relatively strong tension forces are applied. It will be notedthat no matter how much wider adjustable strap portion 36 may be as compared to the diameter of arcuate portion 14 is can be readily secured to connector element 10, forming loop 58 around arcuate portion 14, and said loop will automatically dispose itself symmetrically about said arcuate portion in a neatly gathered condition. As best shown in FIG. 5, non-adjustable strap 34 is `of a width substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of aperture 20, and in that way connector element 10 will have no tilting tendency whatsoever.

Itwill be apparent that the shoulder straps. 32 of garment Sil may be readily longitudinally adjusted by sliding thev adjuster elements 46 of the strap portions 34 longitudinally of the latter. It will be noted that since the adjuster element 46v is associated with strap portion 34 which is of a width substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of aperture 20, when said element 46 is moved longitudinally of strap portion 34 in order to adjust shoulder strap 32, strap portion 34 will be moved relative tov portion 22 of connector element 10, and said relative motion is easily elfectuated inasmuch as strap portion 34 is smooth with respect to `said portion 22.

`Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown another embodiment 10 of a connector means laccording to the invention. Connector 10I is provided with a semicircular aperture 12 bounded by the confronting curved Aarcuate portion 14 and straight portion 16,', having a transverse 4slot 1S therethrough, for providing the confronting portions 19219. Connector element 10' is also provided with a lower elongated aperture bounded by portion 16' and a pair of L-shaped portions 22', 22' defining a transverse slot 24 therethrough, for providing confronting portions 26', 26' and inturned portions 28', 28. Transverse slotsS' and 24 are in registry, the purpose for which will be hereinafter further explained.

It is thus seen that the connector element 16", except for the provision therein of slot 24', is in all respects identical to the connector element 1), previously described, and is accordingly adapted to perform the identical functions previously set forth in connection with the descriptionof FIGS. 1 through-5.

In addition, the provision of aligned slots 1S' and 24' in connector element 16 enables the companion lstrap portions 34 and 36 to be readily detached from said connector element so as to facilitate the laundering and pressing of said strap portions.

When it is desired to separate strap portions 34 and 36 from the connector element l0", strap portion 34 is disengaged from one portion, Isuch as 64', of the L-shaped element 23 after which said strap portion can be easily and facilely passed through the confronting portions 26', 26 defining longitudinal slot 24 for affecting disengagement of the connector element 16' from strap 34. In a like manner, strap portion 34 may be disengaged from portion 66 whereby the strap portion 34 can then be passed through longitudinal slot 24', for effecting separation of said strap portion and connector element. It is to be noted that the rai-sed portions 2S', provided at the ends of portions 64' and 66' projecting from the confronting portions 26,', 26', are effective to aid in preventing strap portion 34 from being inadvertently disengaged from connector element 10', whereby deliberate manual manipulation is required in order to affect disengagement of the strap portion 34 and connector element 10' in order to effect disengagement or separation of one from the other. Strap portion 36 which is interengaged with the arcuateportion 14 ofconnector element 10 canbe facilely detached from connector element 10 by moving the transversely extending loop 58 along thearcuate portion 14 over portion70" to portion 68 of the straight confronting portion 16', after which edge 62 can be made to pass through confronting portions 192,19" deiining the longitudinally extending slot 18T and then through the longitudinally extendingslot 24 for effecting disengagement of strap portion 36 from the connector element 10'. In asimilar` manner, strap portion 36 can be disengaged frorn the connector element 10 by moving edge 62 along portiong7tl'y of straight confronting portion 16. In a, similar manner slots 13 and y24' are used for engaging strap portions 34 and 36 with portionsZZ and 14', respectively. Therefore, it is readilyv apparent that strap portions 34. and 36 may be readilyv and facilely engaged and disengaged from connector element 10', and when so engaged with said connector element, are prevented from becoming inadvertently disengaged therefrom. Also, said connector elementlil is readily adaptable for use with a shoulder strap having Widely variable widths and yet noty causeany injury or damage to the highly ornamented edge portions 62, 62 both when strap portion 36 is engaged with connector` element wand when it is being disengaged therefrom.

It will be apparent that element 10' is provided with portions defining apertures 12 and 20', one of which, 12', is provided with a portion 14' having an arcuate configuration. Slots 1S and 24' are provided in element 10' in order to provide for the lateral entry of the looped ends 4.8 and 58 of strap portions 34 and 36, respectively, for engagement with apertured portions 20 and 12', respectively.r

This application is continuation-impart of my application Serial No. 420,809, filed April 5, 1954.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Means for interconnecting a` pair of unequal width strap portions of an adjustable shoulder strap for a garment, each of which strap portions is fixedly secured to said garment at one end thereof and is provided` With a looped portion at the other end thereof, comprising a connector element having three laterally spaced bars extending between the opposite ends of said element, one end bar and the intermediate bar dening a first aperture which is closed at its opposite ends and is adapted to receive the looped portion of the wider one of said straps, the longitudinal extent of said first aperture being smaller than the width of said one strap whereby said looped portion thereof Yis adapted to be disposed in neatly gathered condition transversely of said one strap about said one end bar, the other end bar and the intermediate bar dening a second aperture which is closed at its opposite ends and is adapted to receive the looped portion of the other of said straps, the longitudinal extent of said second aperture being substantially equal to the width of the other of said straps whereby to prevent the tilting of said connector element, said one end bar being arcuate and uninterrupted and said intermediate and other end bar each being straight and interrupted a substantially equal and xed amount along the longitudinal extent thereof to provide a pair of aligned openings therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 221,051 Goldsmith Oct. 28, 1879 6 Barney Nov. 29, Garceau Oct. 18, Darling Sept. 30, Lazier Aug. 11, Motatt Dec. 13, Landau Nov. 14, Reinberger Aug. 28, Grishman Feb. 19, Hart Apr. 29, Komar Dec. 31,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 15, France Sept. 27, 

